The Rite Aid Foundation announced today a $15,000 grant to Impact Alabama. A non-profit organization based in Birmingham, Impact Alabama works collaboratively with higher education institutions and their surrounding communities in order to develop and implement social justice projects that work to achieve fundamental and systemic change throughout the State of Alabama. The organization will use the grant to expand FocusFirst, a vision screening program for children ages six months to five years, in Head Start classrooms and lower-income daycares across the state. The Rite Aid Foundation previously awarded Impact Alabama a $15,000 grant in 2010.

“Every child deserves quality healthcare, regardless of their environment or their family’s ability to pay,” said Gayle Rife, Manager of The Rite Aid Foundation.

Alexander City native and NYU student Ava Lowery is the director of an upcoming documentary film about Rockford, Alabama's Fred the town dog. 

FRED: The Town Dog is a film about a struggling small town and its adoption of a new friend, exploring his relationships and the effect he had on both individuals and the community as a whole. Fred: The Town Dog was filmed in November of 2012 and is currently in post-production.

FRED: The Town Dog is Ava's thesis film and when it's completed, it will be released to various film festivals and submitted to PBS.

You can view the trailer and learn more about the documentary here.

About the Film:
Rockford is a small town of only 400 residents located in Coosa County, Alabama, where it is the county seat. A small and rural area, everyone here knows everyone, and everyone knows everyone else’s business.

Get your taste buds ready!  Girl Scout cookie sales begin on January 1st.  It's a delicious way to support the Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama.

"Every cookie has a mission: to help girls do great things."

For more information, click here.

Source:  Girl Scouts of the USA